The best road trips through the Alpine regions of Australia

The breathtaking Australian Alps

stretch over a million hectares, linking the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria through a chain of vast national parks. Of course, Australia’s highest mountains are home to our most popular ski resorts (Thredbo, Perisher and Mt Hotham) but they also provide the ultimate road trip scenery. From ancient boulders to fern-filled forests and alpine meadows, the landscapes are as diverse as you could hope for, with a surprise around every hairpin bend. Along the way, there’s also unique flora and fauna to discover, and fascinating historic towns ready to welcome travellers with great food and tips for the road.

The Great Alpine Road, VIC

339km (one way)

Arguably the country’s most famous alpine route, Victoria’s Great Alpine Road

extends over 300 kilometres between Wangaratta and Metung, passing Mt Hotham ski resort en route. You’ll see a full catalogue of landscapes, from winding mountain ranges to verdant forests, past farmland and vineyards, eventually reaching the wild and wonderful Gippsland Lakes region. This was once known as Australia's most treacherous road and, while safety upgrades were completed decades ago, it’s still a thrilling journey climbing 1840 metres from sea level and down again. A handful of Gold Rush-era towns provide interesting pit stops along the way. Don’t miss Beechworth

, Myrtleford

and Omeo

– each with charming historic architecture and thriving food scenes that champion local produce.

Kosciuszko Alpine Way, NSW
108 km (one way)

The Alpine Way

is a road well-travelled. For thousands of years, Indigenous travellers used this route to reach the high country. It would later be used as a drover’s stock route and, more recently, lay the path for the Snowy Mountains Hyrdo-Electric Scheme. Linking Jindabyne (at the foot of the ski fields) with the town of Khancoban, the scenery through Kosciuszko National Park

presents trout-filled waterways, snow-capped mountains (even in spring) and 500-million-year-old granite boulders. This all-sealed road is also a must-do for driving enthusiasts, with lots of climbs and descents, and even more tight and sweeping corners (including a hairpin bend named Dead Horse Gap). There are riverside campgrounds on the route (at Tom Groggin

and Geehi Flats

), as well as several walking trails and lookouts where you can stop and stretch your legs.

Barry Way, NSW

74km (one way)

For keen adventurers (with four-wheel drives), the Barry Way

is a thrilling (unsealed) route through Kosciuszko National Park

. Starting at Jindabyne, the road twists down to the Snowy River Valley, before climbing up to Jacks Lookout, and back down again towards the Victorian border. This route is remote and you’ll need to be prepared with plenty of fuel, food and supplies – but the payoff will be picture-perfect campgrounds all to yourself, with wildlife spotting opportunities galore and serene spots to swim or cast a line (in the warmer months). You can also extend this route from Canberra to Bairnsdale (about 500km) for an even more immersive Australian Alps experience.

Canberra (ACT) to Tamut (NSW) via Brindabella
130km
Brindabella National Park

is at the northernmost edge of the Australian Alps and offers an extensive network of exciting four-wheel drive trails. The park’s entrance is less than 30 minutes from Canberra and offers an alternative route to Tamut (rather than going around via the highway). The mountainous terrain is covered in red stringybark, scribbly gum and snow gum, and is home to several threatened species including powerful owls, yellow-bellied gliders and tiger quolls. Stop at one of the many lookouts and breathe in the crisp alpine air - on a clear day, you’ll be able to gaze right across the Australian Alps to the south.

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^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}